Karen H.

Karen H.

5.0

Studied at University of Pennsylvania

Worked at University of Pennsylvania

Available Monday at 6:00 PM UTC

I'm only taking on clients who will be applying this year.

Protected by the Leland Experience Guarantee

Available Monday at 6:00 PM UTC

I'm only taking on clients who will be applying this year.

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About Karen

About Karen I served on the Penn Med Admissions Committee and appraised countless applications. Additionally, I was a contributing member of the Association of American Medical Schools National Admissions Committee when we established a policy which ultimately has helped some medical school wait- listed applicants be accepted. As a result of my membership on these two committees, I am an expert on the application process and use it to guide my clients through the necessary steps to complete their applications and maximize their chances for medical school acceptance. I’ve shared my clients excitement when admitted to their selected medical schools which have included: Harvard, Howard, Penn, Columbia, Wake Forest, Brown, UCLA, Case Western, and Jefferson.

Why do I coach?

I coach, because I love working with students and have helped those ranging from West Philadelphia inner- city high school students to college medical school applicants. In closer detail, I created the Educational Pipeline Program in which Penn undergraduates mentor the high school students and advise them about college preparation while Penn med students counsel the undergraduates about medical school life and preparation. When I partner with my Leland clients, I shall look forward to editing their AMCAS application and secondary application essays, selecting medical schools to which they will apply, and finally rehearsing their admissions interviews.

Work Experience

Art Facet Chairperson

Montgomery Count Chapter of Links

2006 - 2016

Provided leadership in developing curriculum to improve reading comprehension at the Mt. Zion Primary School in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Assistant Dean for Career Development

University of Pennsylvania

2004 - 2012

Responsible for the cultural environment that supported academic and social success of all students within the medical school system. Developed and implemented programs that supported students from recruitment through graduation placement. • Served annually as a spokesperson for state of Pennsylvania's February Higher Education Conference to advise students interested in the medical profession • Established with the School of Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania a program called Leadership, Education and Policy (LEAP) to assist nursing, medical, dental and graduate social work students to learn ways to lobby congressmen and senators for healthcare legislation mitigating health disparities • Developed the Educational Pipeline Program for inner-city high school students to encourage them to pursue allied health professions and serve as peer educators knowledgeable in diseases prevalent among minorities • Partnered with medical students to create a community service program, Cut Hypertension, in neighborhood Black barber shops for blood pressure screening • Led the development and implementation of recruitment strategies for undergraduates from groups underrepresented in the medical profession and for underrepresented residency applicants for the Department of Medicine • Invited experts in the field to lecture medical and nursing students to increase cultural competency awareness for School of Medicine and the School of Nursing • Leveraged the use of an interactive game, Brain Jeopardy, to recruit undergraduates in neurology and matriculation for the Perelman School of Medicine • Served on the admissions committee for the Perelman School of Medicine Undergraduate Scholars Summer Program for academically talented undergraduates focused on biomedical research careers • Designed the School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Community Outreach website

Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Director of Minority Affairs

University of Pennsylvania

1990 - 2004

Responsible for academic enhancement programs for all medical students which helped maximize their full potential as future physicians • Developed a strategic plan that improved the USMLE, STEP 1 scores from below to above the national mean for passing • Devised the Faculty—Student Advising Program to help first year students develop relationships with faculty to explore career options • Created the Penn Medical Scholars Program that provided role models for college and medical students interested in academic medicine careers • Earned among the first University of Pennsylvania Provost Diversity Fund Grants to advance an undergraduate mentoring program for minority premedical students • Developed a medical school elective course, “Medical Education for High School Students,” in which medical students reinforced their understanding of neuroscience by teaching some basic concepts and related health education topics to students from two inner- city high schools • Initiated the “Interviewing Techniques for Residency Positions Seminar” for fourth year medical students • Served as a reviewer of perspective Medical College Admissions Test verbal reasoning questions to determine potential cultural biases • Designed “Time Management Workshops” for first year medical students to demonstrate ways to balance academic and personal commitments • Created the “Medical School Transition Program” for first year students to help them make a successful emotional/psychological transition from undergraduate to medical school • Instituted the GlaxoWellcome Residency Pathway Evaluation Program to assist third year medical students make informed decisions about residency selection • Supervised the development of the first on-line edition of the “Penn Med Guide to the First Year” that provided advice about succeeding in medical school for entering students Devised an on-line survey of fourth year students’ residency interview experiences to be shared with third year students

Director of Consumer Affairs

University of Pennsylvania

1984 - 1990

Responsible for introducing cultural programs for the medical school • Organized the “Case Presentation Seminar Series” for minority medical students so that they would become acquainted with minority faculty role models while learning clinical skills • Institutionalized for first and second year class the Mossell Lectureship featuring minority physician guest speakers so that students could be exposed to more minorities who have made contributions to medical education, healthcare delivery or research. Assisted in the development of the Annual Women of Color celebrating the accomplishments of individual faculty and staff who made contributions to the University and/or Philadelphia community.